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Chinese team returns to hero's welcome
China's Olympic team returned home on Tuesday to a hero's welcome and dedicated its medals to 'the motherland', as the country swelled with nationalistic pride.
China's Olympic team returned home on Tuesday to a hero's welcome and dedicated its medals to 'the motherland', as the country swelled with nationalistic pride and vowed to host a 'glorious' Games in 2008.
"These results are the product of the concern of the (communist) party and government and of the strong support of society," said Feng Kun, captain of the gold medal-winning women's volleyball team, speaking on the athletes' behalf.
"They do not just belong to the individual athletes who won the medals, but also to the motherland and the people."
As the athletes, dressed in formal blazers and carrying flowers, worked their way from their plane at Beijing airport to the terminal, many were mobbed by reporters and well-wishers asking for autographs.
The plane was greeted by dozens of dancers in red and yellow costumes, a traditional drum and cymbal troupe, a military brass band and some 100 family and friends waving welcome banners and mini Chinese flags.
Politburo Standing Committee member Li Changchun welcomed each of the 245 athletes as they stepped back onto Chinese soil.
Other members of China's 407-strong team had already returned.
"Being able to make a contribution for the country is a responsibility and I feel very happy, very proud. As a Chinese person I'm very proud," said Xing Huina, who won gold in the women's 10,000 metres.
China's 110 metres gold medallist Liu Xiang said he was dumbstruck.
"I feel awesome!" said the 21-year-old, who became the first man from China to win an Olympic athletics gold medal.
China claimed 32 gold medals in Athens, four more than its previous best in Sydney four years ago.
